A host of celebrities and sporting legends are set to take part in the Manchester Remembers charity football match in aid of charities formed in the aftermath of the Manchester Arena attack.
Boxing legend Ricky Hatton, comedian Jason Manford, and I’m a Celebrity winner Danny Miller are among those playing for the Celebrities team, while the Legends team includes former England internationals Nicky Butt, Wes Brown and Trevor Sinclair.
The stars will face each other in a bid to raise funds for five charities over the Coronation bank holiday weekend at Boundary Park in Oldham. The day will also see performances from musicians including the Happy Mondays’ Rowetta.
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Proceeds from the game will go to five charities set up following the 2017 atrocity – The Chloe and Liam Together Forever Trust, Liv’s Trust, The Megan Hurley Foundation, The Remembering Nell Foundation, and Eilidh’s Trust.
The event was set up last year, and raised over £80,000 for the charities. Organisers say they have decided to run the event again after 'overwhelming' demand.
Former England internationals Nicky Butt, Wes Brown and Trevor Sinclair will line up for the Legends in a squad which also features ex-players including John Macken, Frank Sinclair and Colin Hendry. Ex-England star Peter Reid is managing the Celebrities, while Sam Allardyce is taking charge of the Legends.
Spectators will be treated to performances from Hunter & the Wolves, a band whose frontman Lee Hunter’s sister Lisa died in the Arena attack, and Courtbetweeners, a Courteeners tribute band. Happy Mondays’ Rowetta will sing as the teams run out.
The event is sponsored by WeDo Business Services. Chief executive Mark Lindsay said he was 'proud' to be sponsoring the 'special' event.
Manchester Remembers was founded by Paul Corrigan and Aaron Lee, who as a serving police officer was one of the first responders on the scene following the attack. Aaron is now a firefighter.
They said: “Manchester Remembers are really grateful to all at WeDo Business Services for their kind sponsorship of our event and all the support they give us.
"Without their backing, it simply wouldn’t be possible to put on our special event, which is carried in the hearts of so many across Manchester and beyond.
“We organised the game last year to mark five years since the Arena bombing. There was an amazing response with overwhelming demand for it to take place again and for it to be held every year after this, which we hope will happen.”
The Manchester Remembers match between Legends and Celebrities will take place at 3pm on Sunday, May 7 at Boundary Park, the home of Oldham Athletic. Tickets cost £10 for adults and £5 for under-18s and can be booked here.
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